Fudge Cupcake Murder

Chapter Sixteen

Monday morning came earlier than Hannah anticipated. It arrived at four-thirty in the morning when she rolled over on what felt like small boulders in her bed and discovered the Moishe had brought her the contents of his food bowl during the night.

"All right, I give up," Hannah sighed, sitting up to switch on the lamp by her bed and jam her feet into her slippers. Moishe wanted his regular food back. That much was clear. And perhaps he'd done her a favor by waking her up this early. If she could manage to get ambulatory and awake enough to drive by five, she could get to work early and finish the baking before she left to have breakfast with Mike and Bill.

Hannah fed Moishe his regular fare and downed a second cup of the strong coffee her grandmother had called Swedish Plasma, then walked back to the bedroom to excavate her sheets from beneath the senior cat food rubble. Rather than try to save the nuggets, Hannah opened the bedroom window, brought the corners of the sheet together to make a bundle, and shook it out as an offering to passing cats that were not as discriminating as Moishe.

"What would you like, Hannah?" Mike said, smiling at her across the table.

An explanation of what's going on with you and Shawna Lee, Hannah thought, but she said, "Pancakes, maple syrup, and eggs sunny side up."

"Coffee?" the waitress asked, favoring Hannah with a smile.

"Yes, please. And lots of it. I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Me, neither," Mike said, and Hannah clamped her lips shut. No way she was going to ask why!

"I slept like a baby," Bill volunteered. "I think it was because the pressure was off. It was awful not being able to prove I didn't do it."

"Just be glad you're not in France." Mike reached out to pour a cup of coffee for Hannah from the carafe. "Their system is guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around like us."

Hannah clamped her lips shut. It seemed to her that the Winnetka County Sheriff's Department had adopted the French system. Bill had been suspended until he could prove his innocence.

Twenty minutes later, their food had been served and they'd done a good job of cleaning their plates. Bill went up to the counter to order Andrea's takeout breakfast while Mike stayed behind in the booth with Hannah.

Mike gave her a big smile and reached out to touch her hand. "I've really missed you the past couple of days, Hannah."

It's been seven days, and that's more than a couple, Hannah thought, keeping her expression as neutral as possible. She could have argued with the verb in Mike's sentiment as well. How could sharing a booth at Bertanelli's with Shawna Lee Quinn possibly be construed as missing her?

"I sure could have used your help last night," Mike went on.

"Oh, really?" Hannah's eyebrows shot up. From where she'd been sitting it hadn't looked as if Mike had needed help from anyone! "With what?"

"Remember the secretary I introduced you to the last time you came out to the station?"

Hannah looked thoughtful, pretending to make an effort to remember. "You mean the new one? Sharon Lee, or something like that?"

"Shawna Lee. She was with the Minneapolis Police Department. I used to work with her."

Hannah did her best to look innocently interested. "I think you might have mentioned that."

"She's only been here for a month and she doesn't know anyone in town. She could really use a friend."

How about an enemy? I could manage that, Hannah thought, but she didn't say it. Jealousy was an ugly emotion and it was better to keep it close to the vest. "I'm sure she'll find one. People are friendly around here."

"That's true. I didn't really expect you to take her on as your pet project, but I thought maybe you could introduce her to somebody that…"

"Ronni," Hannah interrupted him.

"What?"

"Ronni Ward," Hannah named Lake Eden's three-time bikini contest winner and the biggest flirt in Winnetka County. "Does she still teach that step aerobics class out at the station?"

"Yes, she does. It's really popular with the deputies."

"I'm sure it is. Maybe Shawna Lee should enroll. I think she'd have a lot in common with Ronni and they're about the same age."

"Thanks, Hannah." Mike gave her a smile that sent Hannah's blood pressure soaring. "I knew you'd come up with something. You're the nicest person I know and you're a real problem solver."

Hannah was just wondering if putting two flirts together would neutralize them, like subtracting a number from itself, when she looked up to see Bill approaching the booth. It was amazing what a difference an alibi made. Now that he was back on the job, Bill was standing up straighter, walking with more confidence, and smiling a whole lot more.

"They said Andrea's takeout will be ready in ten minutes and the waitress will bring it over to you. Mike and I should leave. We've got a lot to do today."

"I'm really glad I'm not in the doghouse with you anymore, Hannah." Mike scooted over to Hannah's side of the booth and kissed her on the cheek. Hannah had the urge to turn her head so that his lips connected with hers, but since Bill was watching, she didn't. "I bet you're really relieved," Mike said with a grin.

Hannah wasn't at all sure what he meant. "Why would I be relieved?"

"Because now that Bill's back on the case with me, you can drop your murder investigation."

"That's right," Bill said, smiling at Hannah. "We're really grateful for everything you've done so far, but it's time for you to step aside and let the professionals take over."

Hannah's mouth fell open and she clacked it shut again, hoping that no one had noticed. "You… um… want me to step aside?"

"Yes." Bill zipped up his jacket. "Don't worry, Hannah. Now that we're both on the case, we'll have two trained observers to assess the situation."

And this from the trained observer who was ready to paint Andrea's light blue living room with bright yellow enamel! Hannah thought.

Mike began to frown and Hannah knew that he, at least, had noticed her lack of enthusiasm. "I really hope you're not going to interfere in our investigation. You are planning to drop it, aren't you?"

Hannah just stared at Mike for a moment. Who did he think he was kidding? Dropping her investigation now would be like jerking a cake from the oven before it had time to rise…But both Mike and Bill seemed very serious and Hannah, knew it wouldn't be prudent to tell them that it was simply not in her nature to leave a job half-finished.

"Of course I'll drop it," Hannah said.

"I really thought they were smarter than that," Andrea said digging into her stack or pancakes. "They actually expect us to drop it?"

"That's what they said. And I told them I would."

"You did?" Andrea's fork dropped from her fingers with a clatter. "But you were lying, weren't you?"

"I wasn't exactly lying. I prefer to think of it as a half-truth. I promised them I'd drop the investigation, but I didn't say when I'd drop it."

"That's different." Andrea gave a relieved smile. "So what do we do next?"

"Since you can't be on your feet, you can run our office from here."

"We have an office?" Andrea looked amused.

"We do now."

"Okay, I'll run the office. Do you want me to call the rest of the names on that list Nettie gave us and see if they have alibis?"

"That would be great. You're really good on the phone."

"Of course I am. I'm a real estate agent. What are you going to do?"

"I'll run out to the sheriff's station and pump Barbara Donnelly for information about those old cases Sheriff Grant may have stolen. And while I'm there, I'll ask her about his work schedule. If we can figure out what he was doing and who he saw the day he was killed, that might help."

"A timeline," Andrea said, nodding wisely. "That's what they do in all the detective movies, but it hasn't really helped us yet."

"I know." Hannah sighed deeply. Establishing a timeline for the day of Sheriff Grant's death would probably work about as well as standing at graveside, attempting to spot anyone suspicious.

"Well, there's always a first time." Andrea, ever the optimist, grabbed the maple bar Hannah had brought her for dessert and took a big bite.

"Okay, I'm out of here," Hannah said, plumping Andrea's pillows, moving the phone closer so that it was at hand, and fetching a second pen just in case the first ran out of ink. Then she waved goodbye and went back out to her cookie truck. She'd stop in to say hello to Lisa, ask her to tell Herb to call off the search for roofing trucks, stop at the vet's office to ask for more advice about Moishe and their on-going battle with the senior food, and deliver cookie orders on her way to the sheriff's station. And if she just happened to run into Shawna Lee Quinn while she was walking down the ugly green corridors of the sheriff's station, she planned to nicely, very nicely, put a little crimp in her plans to snare Mike.

"Hannah? Is that you?" Shawna Lee's mouth curved up in a smile as Hannah walked into the sheriff's outer office. "Mike told me all about you and how nice you were. I know I only met you once before, but I feel as if we're friends already!"

Hannah forced a pleasant expression. There was a limit to how much bubbling enthusiasm she could take in any one day. One more comment from Shawna Lee and she'd be on overload. "Hi, Shawna Lee. Is Barbara on a break?"

"No." Shawna Lee put on a tragic face. "It's just so sad, Hannah. Barbara took a leave of absence… you know, one of those compassionate things? I'm afraid it's of indefinite duration."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we don't know how long she'll be gone," Shawna Lee answered Hannah's question literally. "Barbara worked with Sheriff Grant for years, you know. And she said she just wasn't sure she could come back to work without him. They were like partners. You know what I mean?"

"Sure," Hannah said. "So you're filling in for Barbara until she comes back?"

Shawna Lee nodded and her ash blond curls bounced. Then she leaned a little closer and said, "Just between you and me, I don't think Barbara will be back. She really lost it when she heard that Sheriff Grant had been killed. She even misfiled a bunch of daily reports."

"She did?" Hannah was surprised. Everyone said that Barbara was a great secretary and it would be out of character for her to misfile reports. "Do you remember what was in those reports?"

"Not really. I didn't pay that much attention. I just looked for the ones that were misfiled and put them back in the proper places. It took me hours and I found all but one. Just as soon as I get some extra time, I'm going to go through the folders paper by paper until I find it."

"I'm curious," Hannah said, giving Shawna Lee a smile that she hoped would invite confidences. "How do you know there's still one report missing?"

"I can tell by the file folder."

"What file folder?"

"There's a hanging file folder with nothing in it."

"Oh. And you don't think Barbara was in the habit of storing her hanging folders that way?"

Shawna Lee shook her head. "I know she wasn't. There weren't any other empty folders in the cabinet and there's half a box of them in her supply drawer. There's a report missing. I'm sure of it."

"Well, good luck in finding it," Hannah said, turning to go. That missing report could be important and Shawna Lee had already told her everything she knew. Now Hannah needed to talk to Barbara Donnelly.

"I'm really glad you dropped by, Hannah."

"You are?" Hannah turned back.

"Yes. I wanted to find out how your sister was. I bet she's really relieved that her husband is back at work. She's about ready to have those twins, isn't she?"

"She's not having twins."

"Really?" Shawna Lee looked surprised. "But the last time I saw her out here at the station, she was so big and awkward. Of course that's understandable. It must be terribly difficult to look attractive when you're that pregnant."

"Andrea manages," Hannah said, bristling. Shawna Lee had no right to criticize her sister.

"She does have some very cute maternity outfits. Still, I'm sure she'll be glad to get her shape back. Bill will probably be glad, too."

"Why's that?" Hannah asked, just waiting for Shawna to say something catty and seal her fate.

"It can't be any fun for a guy to get close and personal when his wife looks like a balloon." Shawna Lee gave a little laugh and she didn't seem to notice that Hannah hadn't joined in. "I really hope you'll put in a good word for me with your sister and Bill. I'm a good secretary and I'd love to get this job and work for Bill, especially since he's bound to win the election now."

Hannah smiled and it wasn't a nice smile. "You're wrong, Shawna Lee. Bill might not be the next sheriff."

"But why not? He's the only one running now that Sheriff Grant is dead."

"True. But Sheriff Grant could still win. The ballots are already printed and his name is on them."

Shawna Lee's mouth formed a perfect round circle for an instant. Then she recovered and started to frown. "You mean that the people could elect a dead man?"

"It's been known to happen," Hannah said, taking a certain glee in informing Shawna Lee of that fact. "If it does, Mike will keep the job of Acting Sheriff until the Winnetka County Board of Supervisors can schedule another election."

Shawna Lee cocked her head to the side and stared at Hannah for a moment. Then she smiled. "Well, that'd be great, too. Mike's my boss right now and I just adore him. Just between you and me, he was the one who talked me into moving up here from The Cities and applying for this job in the first place."

"She actually said I looked like a balloon?" Andrea's eyes started to blaze. "That does it. She'll work for Bill over my dead body!"

"That's what I figured," Hannah said.

"And right now she's working for Mike?"

"That's what she said."

Andrea's eyebrows shot up at the tone in her sister's voice. "Okay. You can relax, Hannah. I'll take care of her."

"What are you going to do?"

"It's what we're both going to do."

"What's that?"

"I'll call Barbara Donnelly and set up a meeting. You convince her to come back to work so that little Miss Quinn has to go back to the typing pool."

"That'll get her away from the top office, but she'll still be out there at the station."

"Not for long," Andrea said, giving a knowing little smile. "She's not going to like being demoted. I can practically guarantee that. And she might be so unhappy, she'll leave."

"What if she doesn't?"

Andrea shrugged. "Maybe I'll help to find her another job. You know how it is when you're a real estate professional. You hear about all sorts of interesting career opportunities."

Fifteen minutes later, Hannah walked out of the Lake Eden Veterinarian Clinic clutching a small white bag. The contents of the bag had cost her more than Mike paid for the four breakfasts at The Corner Tavern this morning, but if it worked, the expense was worth it. Doctor Bob had prescribed a bottle of vitamins to aid in the health of the senior cat. If Hannah could manage to dose Moishe every night, she could throw away the senior chow and continue to feed him the regular kitty crunchies he preferred.

Hannah climbed behind the wheel and put the white bag in the glove compartment. She doubted that any senior cats would attempt to break into her cookie truck to steal it, but she wasn't taking any chances. Then she drove straight to The Cookie Jar to check in with Lisa.

"Your sister called," Lisa greeted Hannah as she came into the kitchen. "Barbara's going to be at Danielle Watson's dance studio at three today. She'll be watching her granddaughter's dance practice."

"Thanks, Lisa. Do you want a break? I can take over the counter for a while."

"No, I'm fine. It's been slow today, except for a couple of girls who were skipping science class. They wanted me to turn on MTV while they were eating their cookies and they were really disappointed when I told them that we didn't have cable. The cable was out last Monday night and they told me that there was some big concert on MTV. The station was rerunning it at ten this morning and the girls weren't happy about missing it again."

Hannah was about to reply when what Lisa had said hit her. "Are you sure the cable was out on Monday night?"

"I'm positive. Dad wanted to see a movie and I had to run out to the video store so he'd have something to watch."

"Do you think the cable was out all over town?"

"Their recorded message said it was. Lake Eden and surrounding areas, was how they put it. I'm going to subtract a day from our cable bill."

"Good idea." Hannah pulled her notebook from her purse and started paging through it. "Thanks for telling me, Lisa. There's something here that doesn't make sense."

"What?"

"Here," Hannah said, joining Lisa behind the counter. She glanced at the few tables that were filled, but no one was paying any attention to them. "Nettie doesn't have an alibi. She was working alone in her sewing room and she had the window open. When I asked her if any of the Maschlers might have seen her through the window or heard her sewing machine, she said no, they were out for the evening. But she also said the television was on really loud and Kate had left it tuned to a kung fu movie."

"What time was that?"

"Between seven and nine."

Lisa shook her head. "Impossible. You can only get four channels without cable and none of them were showing movies. Believe me, I know. I flipped through before I went out to the video store for Dad."

"So… it must have been a tape," Hannah said, frowning slightly. "But Kate wouldn't have put on a tape and then left the house."

"Of course not. But she has a teenage son, doesn't she?"

"Richie. Kate told Mike that he was out that night with friends."

"Wrong. Richie was in that night with friends. And he probably didn't tell his parents. They watched a tape, the movie that Nettie heard, and then they cleared out before Kate and Jerry got home."

"And they lied about it because they probably drank some beer while they were watching the movie?"

"It's good to know you're not that old." Lisa gave Hannah a pat on the back. "If it wasn't beer, it was probably a girl. And in that case, they might not have been all that interested in the movie."

"Right. So I should talk to Richie?"

"Sure. Unless you want someone younger and more in touch with the teenage mentality to do that research for you."

Hannah grinned. "And that would be you?"

"It would be me. And it just so happens that one of the girls who was here this morning left her class notebook. I'll call the school to tell them it's here and when she comes to pick it up, I'll ask her which girl is dating Richie Maschler. And then I'll talk to his girlfriend and find out what really happened on Monday night."